Rude/miserable station staff - Newport

[Llanigraham]

Unless you get through the barriers at the car park entrance you can't walk over the bridge. Only option is to go all the way around the road (even longer now with the road bridge out) or go the other way (towards the post office) and use the subway tunnel. Both ways a good 10-15 min walk around.

Which I think is exactly what was being suggested.

 

[Michael.Y]

What are you on about?????? I was planning to do this....

Unless you get through the barriers at the car park entrance you can't walk over the bridge. Only option is to go all the way around the road (even longer now with the road bridge out) or go the other way (towards the post office) and use the subway tunnel. Both ways a good 10-15 min walk around.

It is not a fifteen minute walk. It is, at most, a five minute walk. Of course you could be a slow walker, in which case try harder.

 

[47403]

Granted I haven't been there as often as you use it but this has come as a shock, last month I was there and I have to say, the station staff were excellent, helpful and friendly. In fact the station too got the thumbs up, on the fact, it was the only barriers my FoSS ticket, actually opened in the whole FoSS boundary.
However Southampton was a different matter.

 

[cjmillsnun]

You said Oi mate (in that situation) in other public facing companies (including the police) you would be given a meeting with no coffee

As someone who has seen the police work regularly dealing with "difficult" customers I know that not to be true. Whilst they will not resort to swearing they will talk with you firmly if they have to.

 

[Sprinter153]

Granted I haven't been there as often as you use it but this has come as a shock, last month I was there and I have to say, the station staff were excellent, helpful and friendly.

I would second this, never had any trouble there at all. A breath of fresh air in comparison to some places.

Dare I suggest, given his post history and general demeanour on here, our OP is what you could describe as a known 'difficult customer'?

 

[Gemz91]

As someone who has seen the police work regularly dealing with "difficult" customers I know that not to be true. Whilst they will not resort to swearing they will talk with you firmly if they have to.

Don't want to go off topic here, but I've heard plenty of examples of the police swearing!

 

[Llanigraham]

I would second this, never had any trouble there at all. A breath of fresh air in comparison to some places.

Dare I suggest, given his post history and general demeanour on here, our OP is what you could describe as a known 'difficult customer'?

I regularly change at Newport and have always found the staff there fine.
You may well be right looking at past threads by this poster.

 

[Michael.Y]

Don't want to go off topic here, but I've heard plenty of examples of the police swearing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdQUXINKkZ4

 

[Juniper Driver]

Thirded. I admit to a little TIC in my posting, but I note that when travelling on Dutch (and German) trains, even suburban ones, pax are addressed in announcements as 'Dames en Heren' as a rule. When personally addressed, 'meneer' or 'mevrouw' is expected. Same in shops.

I have heard 'ladies and gentlemen' on our trains and it is most pleasing and one feels really valued.

I did (repeated a second time) suggest that no address at all is acceptable and of course 'mate', etc, is acceptable when similarly addressed by those who lost or never had acquired good manners.

It's nice to feel valued as staff,to which I don't.

 

[paulfoel]

Ah I see the old past posting history thing.

Seems to be a bit of a "do no wrong" culture as far as train staff are concerned on this forum. I appreciate that a lot of posters are staff but I'm just calling it as a I see it - sorry if that offends anyone.

But, I'd be grateful if you could restrict your comments to this thread and the issues raised here. If you disagree with anything I've said, fair enough, but please don't start on the personal attacks based on your perception of my personality is.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I would second this, never had any trouble there at all. A breath of fresh air in comparison to some places.

Dare I suggest, given his post history and general demeanour on here, our OP is what you could describe as a known 'difficult customer'?

If you mean, don't expect to be spoken to rudely by someone who should know better then yes, I'm difficult. Tough luck.

 

[DarloRich]

If you mean, don't expect to be spoken to rudely by someone who should know better then yes, I'm difficult. Tough luck.

I do find the inability of several posters to see both sides of an argument constantly amusing!

 

[PeterC]

Like many incidents there are several elements here and a lot of people don't separate them.

In short, was the OP at fault - YES
Was the staff member's response inappropriate - YES

 

[DarloRich]

Like many incidents there are several elements here and a lot of people don't separate them.

In short, was the OP at fault - YES
Was the staff member's response inappropriate - YES

exactly!

 

[Llanigraham]

If you mean, don't expect to be spoken to rudely by someone who should know better then yes, I'm difficult. Tough luck.

By you being "difficult" shows no respect for the railway and it's workers, so why should they show any respect to you.
It works both ways, you know?

You could have easily said to the staff you wanted to go to the loo first, or you could have taken a 5 or 6 minute walk around the station, but instead you were "difficult".

You hold the answer; stop, think, be helpful not "difficult", and you will find that life is a lot easier.

 

[Denzo]

I've worked in a high street chemist for five years and regularly call my customers "mucker", "mate", "pal", "big guy", "wee guy", "my friend" etc, certainly never "sir"


Never caused me any problems at all. Certainly no meetings without coffee.

 

[Juniper Driver]

I've worked in a high street chemist for five years and regularly call my customers "mucker", "mate", "pal", "big guy", "wee guy", "my friend" etc, certainly never "sir"


Never caused me any problems at all. Certainly no meetings without coffee.

I like this and a bit of sociability is quite nice.Just spoke to the UPS man who kindly delivered my parcel round and he didn't call me "sir".I think I'd reel back in horror if he did.We had a nice chat and he was very pleasant.

I always think with this "sir" stuff I should be getting my shoe shine equipment out and doffing my cap humbly.

 

[paulfoel]

By you being "difficult" shows no respect for the railway and it's workers, so why should they show any respect to you.
It works both ways, you know?

You could have easily said to the staff you wanted to go to the loo first, or you could have taken a 5 or 6 minute walk around the station, but instead you were "difficult".

You hold the answer; stop, think, be helpful not "difficult", and you will find that life is a lot easier.

Complete tosh. In now way have I shown anyone any disrespect.

OK as I've admitted to I should have let the guy know but this is hardly being "difficult" is it? If I'd stood there, argued the toss, raised my voice, called him names then.

You seem to be suggesting that if anyone does anything slightly differently or incorrectly then they lose all right to be treated politely and its open season for staff to do what they want?

Not condoning people being difficult and I'd be the first to say that no-one should face abuse from their customers, but there are many who work in service industries who have to put up with all sorts and still be polite back to their customers.

But make a mistake and it seems all bets are off with railway staff? God help the next person that accidentally sits in a reserved seat. Expect to get shouted at because you're "difficult".

 

[DarloRich]

So is the big problem the staff member wasnt obsequious enough for your liking?

 

[Llanigraham]

Complete tosh. In now way have I shown anyone any disrespect.

OK as I've admitted to I should have let the guy know but this is hardly being "difficult" is it? If I'd stood there, argued the toss, raised my voice, called him names then.

You seem to be suggesting that if anyone does anything slightly differently or incorrectly then they lose all right to be treated politely and its open season for staff to do what they want?

Not condoning people being difficult and I'd be the first to say that no-one should face abuse from their customers, but there are many who work in service industries who have to put up with all sorts and still be polite back to their customers.

But make a mistake and it seems all bets are off with railway staff? God help the next person that accidentally sits in a reserved seat. Expect to get shouted at because you're "difficult".

You don't get it, do you?
You admit that you told the guy one thing, and then did the opposite.
You admit to being difficult.
By the whole tone of this posting, and by other postings, you obviously show no respect for others.
You obviously made life difficult for yourself.

This is not railway staff having a go at you, but people who understand that showing respect to others results in respect being returned by them.

All you had to say was "I need to go to the ticket office, but need to use the toilets first" but instead you told them one thing and did the opposite, and that obviously made your actions suspicious, so you were shouted at. I would have done the same thing as the staff at Newport.

I suggest that if you want to get on in this world with as little aggravation as possible you change your attitude and started showing some respect to people who have a difficult job to do, and that is not just railway staff, but all others as well. If you don't you are going to find that you will not get polite service and things will not always go your way.

 

[AlterEgo]

Complete tosh. In now way have I shown anyone any disrespect.

OK as I've admitted to I should have let the guy know but this is hardly being "difficult" is it? If I'd stood there, argued the toss, raised my voice, called him names then.

You seem to be suggesting that if anyone does anything slightly differently or incorrectly then they lose all right to be treated politely and its open season for staff to do what they want?

Not condoning people being difficult and I'd be the first to say that no-one should face abuse from their customers, but there are many who work in service industries who have to put up with all sorts and still be polite back to their customers.

But make a mistake and it seems all bets are off with railway staff? God help the next person that accidentally sits in a reserved seat. Expect to get shouted at because you're "difficult".

Chill out Paul. Jeez.

 

[Denzo]

Complete tosh. In now way have I shown anyone any disrespect.

OK as I've admitted to I should have let the guy know but this is hardly being "difficult" is it? If I'd stood there, argued the toss, raised my voice, called him names then.

You seem to be suggesting that if anyone does anything slightly differently or incorrectly then they lose all right to be treated politely and its open season for staff to do what they want?

Not condoning people being difficult and I'd be the first to say that no-one should face abuse from their customers, but there are many who work in service industries who have to put up with all sorts and still be polite back to their customers.

But make a mistake and it seems all bets are off with railway staff? God help the next person that accidentally sits in a reserved seat. Expect to get shouted at because you're "difficult".

The only reason why "many who work in service industries who have to put up with all sorts and still be polite back to their customers" is because shops, restaurants etc are competitive private businesses in a fairly fluid market. If one has a bad experience with this type of business, chances are he takes his custom elsewhere next time he's shopping in town or out for a meal with his wife.

This situation doesn't really apply to the railways where most of the "customers" have little choice but to be there.

 

[teslatech]

The only reason why "many who work in service industries who have to put up with all sorts and still be polite back to their customers" is because shops, restaurants etc are competitive private businesses in a fairly fluid market. If one has a bad experience with this type of business, chances are he takes his custom elsewhere next time he's shopping in town or out for a meal with his wife.

This situation doesn't really apply to the railways where most of the "customers" have little choice but to be there.

I don't know if that's totally true. If i want to get from Birmingham to London I have a choice of several TOC. So a bad experience as a customer with one might make me switch to a competitor.

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